Detection of hepatitis B virus in sera and liver of slaughtered chickens

A total of 129 sera samples and 193 liver samples were collected from the slaughtered chic-kens for a serological survey.HBsAg,HBsAb,HBcAb,HBeAg and HBeAb were examined by ELISA.The virus-like particles were examined by transmission electron microscope(TEM) .The distribution of relative antigens in the liver of slaughtered chicken was studied by immunohistochemistry.S gene sequences were amplified by PCR from the liver and the comparison of homology was carried out with the S gene sequences.HBsAg,HBsAb,HBcAb,HBeAg and HBeAb seropositive rate were 28.68%,53.49%,1705%,4.65% and 9.3%,respectively.Among all of them,3 sera samples were co-positive for HBsAg and HBeAg.Lots of HBV(hepatitis B virus) -like particles were found in the negative staining serum samples under TEM.Immunohistochemistry detection showed that HBsAg and HBcAg positive liver rates were between 39.06% and 62.07%.Among all of the livers,two strains of HBV were identified.The two detected HBV sequences shared 100% nucleotide sequence identity each other,and 92.2% and 97.9% with the other two human HBV strains.The results suggested that some slaughtered chickens were infected with HBV.